Status of kaolin resources

Status of kaolin resources

Currently, more than 60 countries and regions internationally have kaolin resources, with the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Ukraine, and China being the top producers of kaolin, accounting for 78% of the total international output value. In 2002, the Proven reserves of kaolin in the world were about 32 billion tons, among which the United States ranked first with 8.6 billion tons. The first is a continuous 800km ore belt in Georgia, whose ore content exceeded 70% -90%, and the resources are very rich. The United States is the world's largest producer of kaolin, producing 10.8 million tons of kaolin in 2002, accounting for 25.60% of the global total output value; During this period, 2.4 million tons of kaolin were calcined, accounting for 68% of the global total output value.

In recent years, the development trend of Brazilian kaolin has been very rapid, with a reported reserve of 2.3 billion tons. Although the reserves are not very large, due to the concentration of mines, high mineral content, and good natural quality of minerals, it enjoys the title of "Georgia in the 21st century" and is gradually replacing the UK as the second largest country in the international market.

China is one of the countries with abundant kaolin resources internationally. As of the end of 2001, it has 212 kaolin mining areas and 1431.69 million tons of ore reserves, including 344.97 million tons of B+C grade. There are 97 large and medium-sized mining areas with ore reserves greater than 1 million tons, with a reserve of 1344.102 million tons (B+C grade 302.307 million tons), accounting for 94% of the total reserves. There are 111 small mining areas, with a reserve of 87.59 million tons (B+C grade 42.663 million tons), accounting for 6% of the total reserves.

At present, there are more than 700 kaolin occurrences in China, and the Proven reserves of 200 occurrences are 3 billion tons, which are relatively scattered. During this period, 1.67 billion tons of coal series kaolin is mainly distributed in the Carboniferous Permian coal series in the northeast and northwest of China, and exists in the form of dirt bands in coal seams, roof and floor or separate seams. In addition, according to the recent report of the coal department, it is estimated that the potential resources of accumulated kaolin in the Carboniferous Jurassic and Tertiary coal measures strata in northern China can reach 18 billion tons. This shows that the total resources of China's kaolin may exceed 19 billion tons, ranking fourth in the world after the United States, the former Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. Kaolin is widely distributed in China, covering 21 provinces, cities, and districts in six major regions, but it is relatively concentrated. Guangdong Province has the highest proven reserves of kaolin, with a total ore reserve of 442.15 million tons (B+C grade 117.91 million tons) at the end of 2001, accounting for 30.9% of the total national amount. Next are provinces such as Shaanxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Hunan, respectively accounting for 26.75%, 11%, 7.7%, 7.64%, and 3.73% of the total reserves.